Francis and the future of the SSPX

If one needs to scour the archives to determine Pope Francis’ attitude toward the traditional faith and Mass, then face it, he does not recognize them. The fact that he visited the relics of St. Pius V on his first papal day in the office is not necessarily noteworthy as they have a prominent place in a forward chapel at St. Mary Major.Traditionalists, particularly of the SSPX, should be prepared (as always) for persecution. If not from a direct order of the Pope, then more likely from the Vatican and diocesan persecutors who will sense the absence of an air of mild protectionism for tradition that Benedict exhibited and may go for the jugular.

If you look at what has been dear to this Pope in the past, it has been social justice and redistribution of wealth from the have to the have-nots. This is a pope Obama would have chosen if he we invited to the conclave. The media will call him a conservative since he opposes abortion and gay marriage. But in reality, he may be JPIII with more intolerance toward the Curia and Bishop’s Councils who oppose him. Formed during the era of the infamous Berrigan brothers, he has lived the Jesuit dream of ministering within earshot of Norriega and Che. If anything, Jesuits are independent and militant.

For tradition, I fear we have lost what little patronage we had in Benedict. I would be surprised to see this Pope approach the SSPX with reconciliation designs and I would be equally surprised to see Bishop Fellay make an overture. The danger would be that the likes of Cardinal Muller will be emboldened by the loss of papal interest in the situation and take it upon himself to set down near term ultimatums for the SSPX. In that case, Bishop Fellay may have to go to the mattresses. In contrast to the FSSP’s flattering personal welcome for the new Pope, the SSPX statement was more along the lines of ‘we will pray for him and the church’.

We would be poor Catholics indeed if we ceased to believe in miracles and the intervention of Christ in the governance of His Mystical Body. Perhaps his rumored devotion to the Blessed Mother will lead him to consecrate Russia. That act would begin a restoration that would be unstoppable, even by the forces of the enemy that occupy the church at all levels.

Well, he has said that he prays 15 decades of the Holy Rosary every day, he has written to Fr. Gruner in friendly correspondence, and he has stated his devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. I know lots of traditional Catholics who have difficulty making themselves say 5 decades and who have no devotion to Our Lady of Fatima.
I think there is much to hope for with Pope Francis I. He may have thought he took the name Francis because of his love of Lady Poverty, but maybe there were other reasons he didn’t think of, or better yet, maybe he did.

From the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (North American District):

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter welcomes the accession of the Most Eminent and Reverend Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio, SJ, to the Sovereign Pontificate, taking as his name Pope Francis.

We ask all of our supporters to join with us in continually offering daily prayer and sacrifice that his pontificate may occasion the increase of faith, hope and charity throughout the Church, and the world.

May Pope Francis be filled with the courage and fortitude needed to steer the Barque of Peter amid the turbulent seas and rough winds in which we find ourselves, for the Psalmist tells us, “He that dwelleth in the aid of the most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of Jacob. He shall say to the Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge: my God, in him will I trust. For He hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from the sharp word.” ~ Psalm 90:1-4

We beseech Our Lord Jesus Christ, Head of His Mystical Body, the Catholic Church, to increase the love of the Deposit of Faith and our sacred traditions amongst the episcopacy, clergy, religious and laity, so that through the shepherding hand of Pope Francis, the Divine assistance will remain with us, that we might witness the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and continue to restore all things in Christ.

Communiqué from the SSPX’s General House on the occasion of the election of Pope Francis

With the news of the election of Pope Francis, the Society of St. Pius X prays to Almighty God that He abundantly bestow on the new Sovereign Pontiff the graces necessary for the exercise of this heavy charge.

Strengthened by Divine Providence, may the new pope “confirm his brethren in the Faith”[1], with the authority which St. Pius X proclaimed at the beginning of his pontificate:

We do not wish to be, and with the divine assistance never shall be aught before human society but the Minister of God, of whose authority We are the depositary. The interests of God shall be Our interest, and for these We are resolved to spend all Our strength and Our very life.[2]

St. Francis of Assisi, whose name the new pontiff has taken, heard the Crucified Savior say to him, “Go, Francis and rebuild my Church.” It is in such a spirit that the bishops, priests, and religious of the Society of St. Pius X assure the Holy Father of their filial desire “to restore all things in Christ, so that Christ may be all and in all”[3] according to their means, for the love of the Holy Catholic and Roman Church.

Regarding the Consecration of Russia, does anyone know anything about a person by the name of Antonio Ruffini? I understand that he had the stigmata and made the following prediction ( I copy this from an e-mail I received):

“RUFFINI ON THE NEXT POPE

Father Kramer some years ago wrote these comments with regard to Antonio Ruffini: “I myself knew Ruffini for many years. In the early 1990s Ruffini was asked point blank in his home: “Is John Paul II the Pope who is going to do the Consecration of Russia?” He answered: “No, it’s not John Paul. It will not be his immediate successor either, but the one after that. HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL CONSECRATE RUSSIA.”

Has he made other predictions that have come true? If so, just maybe this will be the pope that will do it. Either way, I’ll keep praying for the consecration to happen-hopefully in the near future.